Xvehicle-wheel



(No Model.) -I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. T, E. JEFFERSON.`

Vehoe Wheel.

ma. Msg.

Pamm'eed'un@ 28., WSL* 5 Sheetsw-Shee't 2.

(No Model.)

T. E; JEFFERSON.

Vehicle Wheel.

No'. 243,569. Paw-:med Mme 28, WM.

liran #rares -nfrerrr A eine; vn

*VEHl'CLEml-EEEL.

SPECIFICA'IlQN" forming part of ie tters Patent No. 243,569, dated June'28, 1881.

Application filed May 23, 18El.` (No model.)

Beit known that I, THQMAS' E. JEFFER- SON, a citizen' cf the UnitedStates, residing at Bostolnin the county of Sniioll; and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-Wheels; and I do .hereby declare the following to he a i'nll',clear, and exactdescription cl' the invention, such as will enableothers skilled-.in the art to :which it appertains to ineke and use thesaine,

^ reference being had to the accompanying draw- .4 .ticatioin fs ings,4and to the letters or iigur'es of-reference marked thereon, which fornia pnrt of this speci- My invention Arelates to l a vehiclewheel adaptedfor usei'nl service in huggies, cnr

rst, in a trnssed rim having an annulargroove,

yriages.` bicycles, sulkie's, and other devices wherein transportationis eti'ected b5' the revo .lutions of the wheeler .wheels over thesurface yot'zthe ground; and the novelty consistsin the construction andarrangement of pai ts, as will` he more iull'- hereinafter setiorth, andspecifi-p4 cally pointed ont in the claims.

AThe object ot' the invention is to provide a svveel having a hub andperiphery, the saine 'being heldin relative` positions bytensionsp'okes; and to this end the invention consists,

and a tire having its bearings upon the edges thereof, so as to coverthe said recess, adapted to lserve withten'sion-spokes or radialtensionties; second; in a tension spoke or tie having `rounded bearingsor hooks, combined with a` rim and hub having connections which willallow play to the spokes at eitheror both ends, both laterallr and inthe line c f travel; and, third, in means for takin-g up slack in thetensionspohes, means for allowing the spokes to have a universalmovement in the rim or hub, or both, means for strengthening the rim,and

.means lor iinpelling the spokes toresume a vertical position after theyhave been detlected p therefrom by lateral strain from any canse, aswill be explained. l

In the accoinpanyin g drawings, whicht'o'rm a part of this specication,Flgnrel 1s a side,` elevation,partly in section, s howing-the trussedrim, the rounded bolt-headsand recesses 1n the rim, and the daringopenings 1n the huh; Fig. 2, an edge view, showing a double hub withtension-spokes extending'alternately to- 4, an edge section, showing thedeflection ofthe rini and tension spokeslaterally, and means forinciting their return toa vertical position when the strainhas beenremoved;

Fig. d, a detail in section, showing a femalethreaded halland athreadedy spoke screwed therein, a lnrn g aperture allowing,universalplay to the spoke with-in limits; Fig. 5, a detail section, showing theVtrnssed rinrand a inoditied spokeco'nnection; Fig.` 17,50. detailsection, showing a stapleor socketscrewed into riin and hub and loosetension-spoke connections; Figs. o, and/9,' edge elevations; sho wingthe recessed riin land the trnsses arranged differentially; Fig. :1.0, adetail section, showing a threaded-ball within the recessed riin inwhich the threadcdspoke is screwed. `Figll is a perspective detail,showing aball.liolding block with recessed sides to allow `thetrussrodsto pass, said block` operating in therecess of the rim. `Fig.12 is a`perspectiveldetail, showing the edges ofthe rim recessed laterally toreceive the blocks. ligf 13 is an inside elevation ot' the hubcap; Fig.14C, a. de tail section ot' an yinvertedconefshapedforacliet or box.having side recesses, through which the truss-rods pass, and a daringaperture below, which receives the spokethe said bracket operating inthe recessed rim, asseen in Figs.

-1 2 and 16. `lri g. l5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of thespohesockets showirin Fig. 7 5 Fig. 16, a'tletail' section ,of the`braclfzctor loci:V

shown `in FigJlft, and the recessed rim, a nut upon the spoke serving'to cover the {laring-` mouthed spoke-apertnre `to prevent ingress ofdirt; Figs. 17 and 18, means forholtling the ,nut in place and taking upslack without removing the locking-key.' Fig. 19 is'an elevation, partlyin section, showingPJ a right-and left-hand-threaded `sleeve connect-ing a duplex spoke and situated hetweenthehnband the rim.; Fig. 20, asimilar device for taking` up slack, the spolie,in d nplex form, beingsecured byan eye at each end. Fig.'.'2l is aidetail view, showingamodication of' Figs. 19 and 2o. Figs. 22 `to fdgfzinclnsive, showsectional IDO 4 ceases for holding the `spoke which is screwed into' xothe lhub andpkeyed tothe rim, the dotted lines showing the deflection ofthe rim and spoke from lateral strain. y -Fgsltand 35eme detail l views,partly in section', showing a rounded frecessedkey'aud aslotted spokeoperating as .j 1:5securingfmeans within the rim. Fig.'36, an

' f enlarged lv'iewin edge section, with the spoke screwed intotbehubandouterholding-clamps,

l. that portion of the spoke 'between these two f 11 partsacting as aspring to bring the rim back f no to a'vertical position after it hasbeen detlected,

I, as shown in Fig. 33. Fig. 37 shows a means .ffforsecuring the bpbend'ot' the' spoke. Fig.

138 isa sectional view, showing the trusses outy .fsideot'the-innersurface of the rirn; Fig. 38,

25*y modi'lied formsyof `rim and tire; Fig. 39, a sectionalview,show`ing thespokes secured to the "1 yriml'between thetruss-bearings; Fig. 40, a

s view 'oi' another form of spokes; Fig. 41, an-

other'vdetaillview', and Fig, '42 representsade- Y3o'tailtshowingamodified means for fastening l the spoketo `the hub and a-spring fortaking 'upslack by a constant and continual force.

*- The dili'erent modifications shown in the severalfiigures of thedrawings are deemed to 7135 be equivalentsgof each other, and comprisesonneofthefeatures and means which I have 'Jdevisedin carrying out -theinvention.

nstan'ce5rany of the means shown for securng'ftheftensiomspokesto therim or hub, or

en ingthe 'rinior lthe construction of athe same, 1 the -springs'ffo'rA:taking up slack constantly, fandx for inciting the return of thedeflected 4 -rimj to its normal position, the meansfor allow--5tinglfateral play and play in the line of travel t-etherfspoke-connection without injuriously bendingthe spoke, means forholding the ball nitpl'ace aftentl'ie; spoke is removed, and other50i-'departing from the principle of iny invention,

J-the essential features of which are a strengthynedriin :and mea-ns forallowing lateral play heretowithoutfinjury to the wheel, with or a.withentfspringsitoinduce its return after deff5$=fe`ction,qiucontradistinction to a giving or l flexible' rim Tandvertical play orrigidly-sefcur'edvspokes.,

,i v.hubot'rthewheel, having the ordinary journalogbearingforthe axle,(not shown) and provided with the cap Awhichis bolted thereto by meansa', leavingeanannular space, a, within for the mani'pnlationof nuts orother securing means for tension-spokes, the insertion of spring, or 65other desired purposes. The hub is provided upon its periphery withHaring apertures a2,

which connect with the annular chamber af,

For

" released. so Vbothy--the location ot' the trusses for strength!letailsof construction may be varied without L. .Referringto thedrawings, A represents the.

and these apertnres'a! receive the hun' endv the spokes B,- tbe innerextremities ofwblcb are secured by threaded rounded nuts, double 7o ees, or other equivalent'nieans, b which will a low the spoke todeect inany direction, the Haring rnonthru8 'allowing' this action .without thebending of the' spoke at that point. The

outer end of the vspoke B is provided with a. 75 rounded head, a roundednut, an eye, or a slot,

or otherrquivalentineans, for vsecuring it to the rim C.

, In Fig. i, a roundedheam-b, operates in a recess, c2, having aa'ring'in'out'h,.in Fig. 32 8o a double eye, in Figs. 10 and 11 athreaded ball, and in Figs. 34 and-35 aro'lmded key, b2,

having a recess operating in a slot, b5, in the v end of the spoke B,arey employed. vIn either of theseor equivalent constructions the outer.85

end ofthe spoke B is secured to the rim kwith a view to allowing lateraland universal' play without bending the spoke at that point, and byfrequent bendings breaking it.`

The object ofthe invention being to furnish `9o a stili and firm wheelwhich .will run vertically in all ordinary uses,it is necessary that thespokes should be held with great tension, and that the rim should haveconsiderable strength of itself; also, that the spokes should be lverysecurely fastened to the hub.

In Figs.' 1 and 2 I haveshown'a siinple'nu, which may be keyed againstreturn, (see Figs. i7, 18 in Figs. 19, 20, 2l, single and double g in l`igsx32- 33., 36,the spoke screwed in- A to the hub; in Fig. 37, alaniped head, &c.; but in cases of great lateral strain my constructionallows the rim to dellect,and in' such cases it is desirable that therim should return to its normal position as soon as the strain is Insome instances the spring-action inherent in the severalspokeswill besuiiicient; butto render this' action more cer,

tain I -provide'nieans for inciting and' forcing 1 the vspoke and rimback after deflection.

In Figs. ,'32, 33, and 36 an `annular disk, d, is formed in one 'piecewith the hub, and a, re movable disk, D, is bolted thereto to 4form aclainp. The spoke is screwed or .otherwise secured into the hubringwhich forms theirg journal, and the clamp grasps itat the periphery,leavin ga! considerable portion of the spoke free in tlie annular spacea.' This portionfexl erts a constant-influence as soon as the riinisdetlected to either side toi'orceitback. and also to liniitits lateralmovement.v This feature is l fully shown inFig. 4l.

The slack in the spokes is taken up ordinarily by screwthreadconnections, either bya nut, b', nsidethehub, by threaded eyed bolts, orri ght-aud-lei' t-hand-thre'aded sleeveB (See Figs. 19, 20, 21and 31..)y`I also use inclined keys or wedges,with or without nut-s. y In en seswhere considerable strain or load requires very iirin and tightconnections these devices maybe sufficient; but-"a spring, in additionto otherdevices, may be employed when da sire... (See, for instance,Figs. 32 andf42.)

In contradistinction to devices Where the rim 'is designed to yield orspring inward,my invention is intended to have a'considerahle inherentstrength in itself, which Iacquire hy 'ibrming the saine, C, of anapproximately V y shape in transverse section, thus forming a recess, c,entirely around the rini. In this recess c the rounded heads ofthe'spokes or the threaded halts or eyebolts or links are secured. '.lllovadd to the strength inherent iu the rim itself when necessary I trussthe' same with tica-rods c' or their equivalents, which may oe made insections, or of a single piece going entirelyaround the wheel, and thespolre'connectons with the rini may be arranged in any manner which willutilize the greatest strength of the trusses c. The trusses arepreferably arranged in duplex series, and may extend one n pon each sideof the recess c in alternate relations or cros each other from side toside. (See Fig. S.)

E represents a' tire, which has its bearing upon the outer edges of therim C, and it is secured thereto by bolts or otherwise, and completelyincloses the recess or chamber c, which maybe iilled with wood desired.A

By referring to Fig. 12 it wiil he noticed that the rim Cisyprovidedwith lateral recesses, H, which have shouldersh. .Blocks G' areconstructed with upper auges, so as to fit snugly in the transverserecesses H h,"and leave a li'ush `face upon the `-outer edge oftherinn.A 'lh'e spoke and threaded hal! j" may he passed through theopening in thehlock G', and when the spoke is detached for any purposethe said block holds the ball against displacement. An invertedconc-shaped cox or bracket for similar service with wthe rim U is shownin Figs. 14,16, which l preferiti practice.

' In Fig. 7 is shown two perforated threaded thimhles, each receiving aheaded end ot' a spoke, B, one headed after insertion, which areadapted' to he screwed vinto hub and rim until the spoke has the propertension.

In Fig. `3:5 the truss is shown outside the rim, which arrangement maybe preferred in sonic cases; and in Fig. 2 a double hub is shown asbetter adapted to resist extreme side pressnre.

I design to construct the parts and adapt them to each other in such amanner that they willserve ei'ciently in a vertical position withoutslack or ploy; but the necessary contraetion and expansion due to heatand cold, lateral strain, ordinary wear and tear will render ytightening the parts necessary aty times, and the various'equivalentdevices shown are adapt ed to subserve this purpose.

. In Fig. 37 a recess iu the annular space c receives 'one portion of adisk or head, P, of the spoke, and a similar recess in the removabledisk D receives another portion ofthe head Rand when the bolts are drawnfirmly toor other -material, it'

.gcther the head is held rigidly. The clamp at some distance from thehead P also holds the spoke vfirmly, and thisconstruction greatlyL partsshould they,

stiffens the spokes in-their vertical position.

in this construction means equivalent to those described may he employedIto ,tighten 4the loosened. A V

in some cases 'and ior some kinds of service it may he desirable ornecessary to have a' limitedlaterai play, and this .i have provided forby the Haring-mouthed. openings and the Aeye-connections described.

In Fig. 1d is shown an elongated tif-shaped rim, C, havin g iianges wperforated at proper distances to admit holts hy which the tire issecured thereto with a broad seat or bearing.. This forni gives amaximum of strengthl to a minimum oi' material.

In Fig. 38a the outer sides ofthe riin Care formed concave or arebellied inward. Gonscquentl y the great strain upon the rim iromthespokesB may tend to straighten these sides. It the trusses cross eachother from side ,to side in the recess c they operate in the oppositedirection, and thus Working against eachV `other they connterhaiauceeach others e'ets to produce slackness hy reason ot' the tendency tostraighten the sides. The opposite of this is the result where @shapedritns are used, as both truss and spohe strain would he in the samedirection.

It is intended hy the construction oi'parts hereinhetore described andshown that-.the spokes will serve with eciency andusefulnessl with anyform et' rino or huh, and that the rim, ne-enforced-sncstantinllyias-shown,- vfill serve ecienily with anyhind of spoke or huh; and alsothat the truss deviccwiliserve ed'ectualiy with any forni ot' rim,spokes, or huh.

The portion of the wheel which endures the tension is preferahiy made ofstretched refined steel, and las the strength of the wheel lies in thetension ot' the parts from many radial points toa common center, it isapparentthat'. great advantages wiliaccrue, among which are durability;properi y protected from oxidation by paint, varnish,igalvanisation,orotherwise; the parts, with the means tbradjustmentat will, will last amuch longer time than if made of other material; reliability in use andin cases of accident; when concussion occurs with any object the singie-hubhed wheel will deflect from its normal or vertical position untilthe f obstruction is passed, when it will immediately wi th meanst'orallowingnniversal play at either end without bending the spokes, andthreaded means for sneciled.

with tightening the parts, as

from any cause, become 7o .with tcnsion'.- spokes.; a lre-enforced rim,'andi spokes havingronnded heads or nuts, a hub 2.5- A hub havin gannnlar recess, a .removable capand peripheral daring apertures, combinedmeans for tightening ,the parts, as specified. i Ajrjecessed rim havingbottoni frecesses with flaring apertures, combined withtensionhavingftlaring apertures and an annular ch a'mher, .andwitlrmeans fontighteningthe parts,

iside-VS,

toside, tensiorispokes, vspokes, and means lfand thev tension of thetrusses will -equalize lforth.`

lspokes having rounded nut-s or heads, i:laring apertures in lap eachother 'and break joints,

asspfei'ed. Y

ed form in transverse the'entire face tofreenforce said-rirn, combinedlwith a tire adapted tot coversaid recess, as forth,-

5. The rim'C,1having the V-shaped recess c and flanges', the containedtrusses, the tensionandthe the recesses c", as set fort-h. j-G.'Thefri-mC, having V-sha-ped or concave the contained trusses crossingfrom side and devices therein forv securing the combined with thehub,the y for tightening the parts in thatthe tension otfthe' spokes snch'amanner 'each other and prevent relaxation, 'as specified.

7 .A Therecessed re-enforced riin Q0, having,` recesses c, with Haring.apertures, combined;

withv a thread ed 4 threaded tensonspoke, tightening means, as androunded `nut or head, and a and with a hub and for the purposes set 8.In a 'vehicle-wheel having ahnb, tensionspokes, and meansfor adjustingthe saine, a

'recessed rin', re-enfercziand strengthened' against yielding inward byseries of trussties 'contained in said' recess, arranged tooveras'specitied.

' 9. The spoke B, having threaded end and a l'slotfbelow thethreaded-portion, combined with L` a'=securing-nut and a thirnble havingdiffrentialltv-arran ged similar slots, adapted to bear A the flange a,

rect vertical plane i the said daring apertures, asand for purposes yagainst the nut as the saidslots register and the wed gekey is insertedto prevent the retreat of the nut, as specified.

10. The hub A, having jou'rnal-bearinfr;- for the axle,- annnlar flangea", aringapertures a2,- and annular chamber a, combined with the cap A',having annular recess a5, which receives and with securing means, forth.

Y 11. In awheel. having annular clampingdisks, with the hub, and theother, D, removable, the tension-spokes secured to the journal andclamped Yat a distance herefroln to give a sprngaction to the portion ofthe spoke within the cliainber"a'as shown inFigAi, and sel-ve with aconstant. force to keep the spokesand re-enforced rim in averticalposition,as specitied.

12. In a vehicle or other wheel, a recessed rim re-enforced byaI seriesof contained trusses,

.and adapted to serve with 'a hub and a series 'ofv tension-spokes, asand for the purposes specified.

oneof which.d., is' formed in 'one piece' as set i 13. The couibinationoi the hub A A dla2 and the rim C c c' with the spokes B, having.

spring-arms bsecured in the journal and allowed to'spring laterally-inthe cham-ber a.. without displacement, (see Fig. 41,) as speci tied. l 1l 14. -In a vehicle or other wheel, the hub having peripheral flaring orenlarged apertures, the series of tensionspokes and the rim, the saidrim and spokes l with each other and with specitied.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOS. E. JEFFERSON. Witnesses:

' H. CLAY Sm'm, t

E. R. BROWN,

being positioned in a (li-

